Mail receiving and delivery apparatus.



PYATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

I. M. HURLBY. A MAIL RECEIVING AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.14. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l aiwenlfoz 'No. 821,941. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

Y F. M. HURLEY.

MAILRECEIVING AND DELIVERY APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 No. 821,941. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

P. M. HURLBY.

MAIL RECEIVING AND-DELIVERY APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- anvoutoz mflarley FRANKlVl. HUltLEY, OF BLlSSFllDLD,.OHlO.

MAN. RECEIViNG AND DELUVERY APPAWATUSQ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, race.

Application filed September 14, 1905. Serial No. 278,473.

T all whorrt it may concern:

a rapidly-moving train and which is so constructed that the parts will automatically I swlng away from the track or that part of'the mechanism which is located alongside of the same.

The invention consists, broadly speaking, in the provision of' a post alongside of the track, sai post supporting both a hook for receiving a mail-bag from a train and'also supporting devices for holding a mail-bag so that the train may catch one bag while it is delivering another and a complementary device carried by the train for coacting with the device supported along the track.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the car device with parts separated. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top bar of the car device. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line a :c of Fig. 3. tion of the post-arms in full lines in inoperative position and dotted in operative position. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the 0st. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section oft epost. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same -"eference characters.

At the desired point along the track is mounted a post 1. It is provided at a suitable point in its height with a base portion 2,

from which downwardly-extending beveled surfaces 3 extendl Above the base 2 the post is preferably made cylindrical in crosssection throughout the rest of its length, as shown at 4. 0n the lower end of its cylin- Fig. 5 is a vertical secdric'al portion 4 is mounted a sleeve 5 in such a manner that it may move freelv both axially and in a vertical direction. The sleeve 5 carries a hook 6, which is designed to catch a mail-bagfrom the train in the usual manner, and said hook is preferably pivotally connected to the sleeve 5 so as to turn axially and may be secured to the sleeve by a pin-andsocket connection 6 in either a rightehand or left-hand position, according to the direction in which it is desired said hook shall face. The sleeve 5 is provided with a downwardlyextending foot 7, that is designed to normally reston the base 2, and in this position the sleeve is at the' upward limit of its movement and the hook projects out toward the track.

Above the sleeve the post 1 carries a stop 8,-

rection. When the hook 6 is in operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, with the e"xtension 7 resting upon the base 2, it .is in position to catch a mail-bag. As the train ap proaches and the vertically-supported bag is held out therefrom it will be caught in the angle of the hook and detached from its slipporting-arms, and at the same time the impact 'will cause the hook to swing axially, which will in turn cause the foot or extension 7 to be forced off the base 2 and to ride downwardly uponone of the oblique surfaces 3. Hence the bag will be carried away from the track and also lowered into a convenient position to be detached from the hook. If desired, the hook 6 may be rovided with a locking-arm 11, which, as ilustrated in the drawings, is in the form of a lever fulcrumed thereon to move in a the prongs of the hook.

The locking-arm 11 is mounted to turn freely on its pivot on the hook 6. It is provided with two angularly-disposed arms and is pivoted at the junction of said arms, and its normal receiving position with respect to the hook 6 is illustrated in Fig. 7. When the mail-bag enters the said hook, it will strike against that'arm of the part 11 which extends across the members of the hook and will thereupon turn the part 11 so that the other arm thereof willbe turned into a posi- This finger 10 is designed to limit the movement of the sleeve 5 in one d1- plane coincident with tion back of the bag, and thereby prevent it from accidentally falling. away from the hook. It is to be understood that while the hook is lowered, as it is turned away from the track,

the lower limit of its movement is at such elevation that it will clear the ground or platform. Above the catching device just described there is mounted a holding de-" vice. This consists of, two arms, the lower-.

most of which (designated 12) is mounted tofreely turn on the post in an axial direction and is also free to move up and down within certain limits. At its inner end it is provided with a downwardly-extending foot 13,

designed to rest on a sleeve 14, rig'idl se-a cured to the post or formed therewith, 1f desired, and the sleeve 14 is provided with a,

flat portion 15, from which descends surfaces 16, so as to hold the lower part- 12 projecting out toward thetrack at the highest point of elevation, also to allow said lower member to descend as it is swung around, the foot 13 riding on the surfaces 16 in a manner similar to that before described with respect to the foot 7 and surfaces 3. Above this lower member the post is provided with a collar 17,

' which limits the upward movement of the as to rest out of the way. It is thrown back.-

lower member 12. At the upper end of the post, and preferably at the extremity thereof, the uppermost member 18 of the holding device is mounted. This member is supported on the post to swing in a vertical plane, so that it may rest with its free end rojecting toward the track to coact with the owermost member 12 or may be turned backwardly, as indicated in the drawings, so

wardly automatically by means of a spring 19-from its forward position when it is coacting with the lowermost member 12; This 1 I the operation of this part of the apparatus,

the mail-bag being held between said fingers out toward the track, as the train approaches the hook projecting outwardly therefrom will engage the ba and as it does so, and disengages it from t e fingers the impact will force the lowermost member 12 backwardly and downwardly, while at the same time the uppermost member 18 being freed will be thrown over backwardly by its spring, so as to be out of the way.

The above-described mechanism constitutes a device for holding and delivering position to be caught by the hook 6.

mail-bagpvat the desired point along the track. th said device complementary'devices on the car are designed to coact. The car device comprises two arms 22, an upper and a lower arm, each-preferably mounted or supported on a cross-bar,23 24. The 'arms 22 are provided at their pivoted porsockets 28 for the reception of spring-pressed dogs 29, so that the fingers may be held in different angular relation to their'supportin arms.- These two arms 22 constitute, Wit their concomitant parts, the means for holding the mail-bag outwardly from the car i Above the arms 22 there is mounted on a cross-bar 30 a hook 31 which is capable of bein turned axially within bearings 32 and is he? or another by means of a pivoted catch 33, entering in the rear end of the shank of the hook and pivoted at a point above the bar 30. The cross-bar 30 is mounted to turn upon its longitudinal axis, so that the hook may be carried bodily out of the car in a position to catch the mail-bag orinside the car when it'is not desired or after it has caught the bag. The cross-bar 30 is provided with a forked latch 34, by which it may be locked in different positions. As the hook catches the mail-bag the attendant within'the car mayreadil rock the supporting cross-bar and swing t e hook, with its bag, into the car by pulling on the handle of the pivoted catch 33 tofdeposit the bag inside the car. It is obvious-that the receiving and delivering mechanism for the car may be 'placedor d with its'prongs facing in one direction mounted on the door-frame or at any suitable portion of the car. j

To protect the track device from the weather, the post 1 may be provided with any suitable form of housing, which must be of an insufficient extent to interfere with the proper movement of the parts.

The operations of the various parts of my improved a paratus have been serially de.

scribed an are obvious. It will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient.

mechanism for passing mail-ha s to, and from a rapidly-moving train an that the construction of my apparatus does not necese sitate any radical departure from the system I. In an apparatus of the charaeterde- 51 now in use, but is applicable to all condi- 11.

se1,9e1

scribed, a supporting-post, a sleeve mounted to move freely on said post both in an axial and vertical direction, the post being provided with a base andsurfaces descending therefrom, and the sleeve beingi provided with a foot designed to rest on sai base.,a 1d ride downwardly on said surfaces, and a bagcatching hook carried by the said sleeve.

2. In an apparatus of the character deprovided with a foot designed to rest on said base and ride on said surfaces and a bagcatching hook carried by said sleeve and provided with an arm for supporting the bag thereon.

4.. In an apparatus of the character described a supporting-post provided with a base and surfaces descending therefrom, a sleeve arranged to turn freely on said post both axiallyand in a vertical direction and provided with a foot designed to rest on said base and ride on surfaces, a bag-catching hook'carried by said sleeve, and a stop for preventing the movement of said parts in one direction. p

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting-post provided with a base and surfaces descending therefrom, a

sleeve arranged to turn freely on said post both axially and in a vertical direction and provided with a foot designed to rest on said base and ride on said surfaces, a bag-catch ing hook carried by said sleeve, and an adjustable stop for pre enting the movement of said parts in one direction.

6. In an apparatus of the character -described, the combination of a supportingpost, a bag-catching hook designed to swing axially around said post and to move vertically upon the same, and a stop mounted on the post and arranged to prevent or limit the movement of said hook in one direction.

7.' In an apparatus of the character described a supporting-post and a bag-delivering device supported thereon, the same consisting of a lower member movable both axi ally and vertically on said post, and an upper member mounted on said post to swing in a vertical plane.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting-post, a bag-delivering device mounted thereon, the same consisting of upper and lower members designed to hold the mail-bag, the lowermost being mounted to turn axially and also to; move in avertical direction, and said member being provided with'a foot, and the post provided with inclined surfaces designed to effect a turning and lowering of said member.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting-post and a bag-delivering device carried thereby, the same comprising a lower member and an upper member, the latterof which is mounted on the post to swing in a vertical plane, a tension-device for said upper member and. means whereby in the operation of securing the mail-bag to said members, said tension device will be compressed in condition to automatically throw back said upper member when the bag is released therefrom. i

10. In an apparatus of the character. described a bag-holding device for the car the same comprising arms mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and pivoted fingers supported on said arms and designed to hold between them the mail-bag, each of said fingers being provided with means whereby it may be locked in different angular positions with respect to its arm.

11. In an apparatus of the character described a bag-holding device for the car comprising arms, bag-holding fingers pivotally mounted on the free ends of said arms and each of said fingers being provided at its pivot portion with a plurality of sockets, a dog designed to enter said sockets whereby to lock the fingers in different angular positions with respect to the arms.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a bag-catching device for the car, the same comprising an axially-rotatable support or bar provided with a bearing, a hook mounted with its shank rotatable in said bearing and said shank provided on its rear end with a bifurcated extension, an arm or lever carried by said bearing and designed to enter said extension to hold the hook in different positions.

13. In an apparatus of the character described a su porting-post rovided with a base and inc ined surfaces escending therefrom a sleeve mounted to turn freely on said post .both axially and in a vertical direction and provided with a foot designed to rest on said base and ride on said surfaces, a bagcatching hook carried by said sleeve and a stop 8 mounted on said post above said sleeve and provided with a downwardly-extending finger designed to lie on one side or the other of said sleeve whereby to prevent movement of the said sleeve in one general direction.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a sup porting-post and a bag-delivery device supported thereon, the same comprising a lower member designed to hold the lower end of the bag, and an upper member deslgned to coact with the lower member, the

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upper member bei 'of the said post-a anda spring sec post'and arran said upper me j ected from th A by when the will throw sa from the'pest ng hinged at the upper "end nd arranged to liethere0n,-- ured tothe upper'end' 0f'said pressed by the e letter isre the post whre'-' the said spring er b'aekWardl-y ive pesi tion.

of the character d-edevice comprising. a d' to' rotate eb'out'its 0k mounted on' seiclthereon, and an arm ed by said barabove ovided with" ahandle de g engagement with the" by said arm or lever' tien of leckingithe ged to be com mber when th e upper end of bag is-released id 1 upper 'memb intoan inoperet In en 1 apparatus e 'bag -eetching supportimg bar-mounte longitudinal axis; a ho bar and axiall 33 pivot-ell-y carri the same and signed for 100 shank of the hook, performs the double fume k in' an axially when disposed position and whleh'the operator may serving as a -hendlegrasp to rock'th'e support andswing the hook b'a'ck-Wardly into th '16. I scribed, a be comprising a table cross-bar, mounted to turn-'axi right-angles t0 the pivoted arm 33, provided with a h tion designed toe whereby to hold justed positions lug-bar," said handle all whereby the operator turn the'hook-bod i'ly- Intestimony- Wher in presence of two Witnesses;

M. HURLEY. [L, s.]

pparatus of I the character v deg-catching. device for the ear pfortin the formof a rota hobkhavingits shankally on said erossba,r at movement ther nter-theshank of the hook th'elatter 'in' diflerent ed spect te its supp'0rt se'servln'g as means may-rock the 'bar and beekward int-o the ear.

I iatfix my si Witnesses? LAURA Fox; EILMER' 'L. Fox: 

